More than four dozen members of the Daesh ISIS Takfiri militant group have deserted the terrorist group as Iraqi government forces backed by fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units continue to advance and retake areas previously held by the extremists.

Informed sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language al-Forat news agency on Friday that 50 Daesh militants from Shirqat, located some 300 kilometers (190 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad, have shaved off their heads and beards, and fled the city towards an unknown location.

The sources added that Daesh Takfiris have consequently placed Shirqat under curfew, and launched an operation to arrest the deserters.

Separately, at least 36 Daesh terrorists were killed and 40 others injured during fierce skirmishes with Kurdish Peshmerga fighters near Daquq town, located approximately 180 kilometers (111 miles) north of Baghdad.

A security official, requesting not to be identified, said Daesh militants left the bodies of their comrades behind and fled the scene, noting that three Peshmerga fighters also lost their lives and 20 others, including Secretary of the Kurdistan Communist Party Mohammed Haj Mustafa, sustained injuries in the fighting.

The injured were transported to a hospital in Kirkuk, located 236 kilometers (147 miles) north of Baghdad, to receive medical treatment.

The developments came on the same day as Peshmerga forces liberated the villages of Albu Mohammad, located some 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Kirkuk, Minor Tal Rabiah, Major Tal Rabiah, Sheikh Saleh, situated 45 kilometers (27 miles) south of Kirkuk, Zaklawa, Samoud and 7 Nisan (April 7) following heavy exchanges of fire with Daesh terrorists.

Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since the Daesh Takfiris launched an attack in June 2014, and overran portions of Iraqi territory.

The militants have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and others.